How to Identify the Type of Hard Drive on a Laptop

Laptops use one of two types of hard drives: SATA or IDE. If you wish to replace the hard drive in your laptop, you must replace it with the same type of hard drive that the laptop currently has. To identify the hard drive in your laptop, you must first remove the hard drive, then look at the type of connector on the drive. Removing the hard drive is similar for all laptops.

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Phillips screwdriver
Flat head screwdriver

Instructions

- 1
  
  Shut the laptop down and close the display.
- 2
  
  Disconnect the power cable from the laptop and turn it face down.
- 3
  
  Remove the battery from the bottom of the laptop. Some computers require you to switch a locking mechanism to "unlock" it, then depress a removal tab. Refer to the owners' manual for specific instructions.
- 4
  
  Locate the hard drive compartment cover on the bottom of the laptop. The hard drive compartment cover is a plastic piece approximately two inches by four inches; one or more screws secure the hard drive compartment cover to the laptop.
- 5
  
  Remove the screws using a Phillips screwdriver.
- 6
  
  Insert the tip of a flat head screwdriver beneath an edge of the hard drive compartment cover and pry it off.
- 7
  
  Remove the screws below the hard drive cover securing the hard drive. Not all laptops have these screws.
- 8
  
  Grasp the hard drive and pull it away from the connector. Grasp the edges of the hard drive and pull up to remove it.
- 9
  
  Examine the connector on the end of the hard drive. IDE drives have a 48-metal pin connector approximately two inches long, while SATA drives have a half-inch L-shaped connector with no pins.
- 10
  
  Flip the drive over and locate the white sticker on the hard drive. The sticker contains other information about the hard drive including the brand, model and capacity of the drive.

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How to Identify the Type of Hard Drive on a Laptop

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